Cable terminal

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an outdoor terminal ( 8 ) to be mounted with one end on a pylon. The base armature ( 20 ) is provided with means ( 18 ) for fastening the cable ( 10 ) and with an electrical feedthrough ( 32 ) to the interior of the terminal. The cable terminal comprises other conventional means for electrically connecting the cable protecting device to ground potential, means for field control (field control element ( 33 )) and isolations at the inhomogeneous potential transitions on the cable end. The electrical feedthrough ( 32 ) that is configured as a tube or a pin is connected to the cable conductor ( 12 ) via contact elements ( 42 ). The feedthrough ( 32 ), the insulators ( 50 ) and the head armature ( 70 ) form one assembly unit.

[0001] The invention relates to a cable terminator, preferably an outdoor terminator for high voltage according to the preamble of the main claim.

[0002] Various types of terminators are known. Older designs are formed with porcelain insulators and an oil or other chemical filling. Such terminators have the disadvantage that they are not very robust mechanically, and no longer fulfil present-day environmental protection conditions with regard to possible substance leakage. A terminator without oil filling is described in EP 667 665 B1. A special feature of this terminator is a rigid conducting element which is designed to take up the lateral forces. The forces are carried away from the overhead conductor connection via the rigid conducting element, via a base body with a field control and insulating device, to the bearing structure. The weak point of this arrangement is the transition from the conducting, rigid element to the base body.

[0003] An object of the invention is to propose a cable terminator, preferably a high-voltage outdoor terminator, which can be produced at low cost, is mechanically stable and entirely satisfies the mechanical requirements.

[0004] The object is achieved by the features of the main claim. Further embodiments are found in the subclaims.

[0005] The terminator is mounted at one end on a base fitting, preferably for fastening to a cross-arm. Means for fastening the cable are formed on the base fitting and have an electrical duct inside the terminator. Situated at a top fitting are means for fastening to the duct; means for electrically connecting the cable shield to earth potential and means for the field control and insulation at the inhomogeneous potential transitions at the cable end are present.

[0006] The insulating body generally bears on its surface an elastomeric material (preferably of silicone rubber) with a ribbed surface (shielding plates). The length and in particular diameter of the insulating body is to be chosen such that the demands for sufficient insulation and avoidance of atmospheric flashovers at full operating voltage are met. This requirement can be fulfilled by covering the surface of the insulating body with a resistive or refractive control coating.

[0007] The insulating body is fastened to the base fitting. This type of fastening corresponds to the prior art (EP 667 665 B1). The further, customary means for electrically connecting the cable shield to earth potential and means for the field control (field control bodies) and insulation at the inhomogeneous potential transitions at the cable end are employed. What is essential is that, on the fastening to the base fitting, voids present between the cable end and the field control and insulating elements are closed by mechanical bracing with the base fitting.

[0008] The key feature of the invention is that the insulating body is filled up with material from the region of the fastening to the base fitting up to the level of the contact elements, and that the filling is reduced towards the top fitting, with the result that an internal cavity is formed.

[0009] The three parts consisting of electrical duct with contact elements, insulating body and top fitting are produced separately. The top fitting consists essentially of an electrically conductive end plate and an overhead conductor connection piece, in which a thread may be incorporated for the fastening of a carrying lug. The electrical duct, designed as a tube or as a pin, is preferably fastened inside the end plate in a welding operation (or by another firm mechanical connection). The insulating body, consisting of insulating material, is bonded into the top fitting. The unit, also referred to as assembly unit, is lifted by a crane at a carrying lug into the assembly position and lowered from above over the prepared lower part of the terminator. The dimensions of the parts in the lower region of the assembly unit are designed such that upon assembly they slide in a self-centring manner into the base structure on the base fitting. In the process, the electrical duct also comes into contact with the cable conductor via contact elements.

[0010] A cable plug system is preferably employed for the contact receptacle; the latter may be fastened to the cable conductor with screws. The electrical contact to the electrical duct is provided by contact laminations. This plug connection is not designed to take up the forces on the terminator. In the present arrangement, the insulating body is therefore constructed and dimensioned so as to be able to take up all the mechanical forces. The plug connection is relieved of mechanical loads. A typical magnitude of the transverse force to be expected is 5 kN, so that the mechanical design is to be dimensioned for this characteristic quantity.

[0011] The insulating body is produced from cast resin or another suitable material. It may be materially strengthened, for example with glass fibres. The insulating body is completely filled up with material from the bottom edge up to the level of the contact elements. A cavity is preferably formed in the interior of the insulating body. The cross-section of the cavity (the space filling) may be linear or be reduced in a curve in the shape of a funnel towards the top fitting. The form of the cavity allows the weight to be kept low, but the wall thickness may not be reduced further than a point where the bending forces can be taken up. In a preferred design, the inner surface of the cavity is lined with a conductive coating. The essential process steps during assembly are as follows:

[0012] preparation of the cable end, stripping the end insulation and uncovering the cable conductor,

[0013] attachment of the contact receptacle to the cable conductor,

[0014] fastening of the base structure to the base fitting,

[0015] by means of a crane, lifting of the assembly unit consisting of insulating body, top fitting and electrical duct,

[0016] lowering of the assembly unit onto the base structure fastened to the-base fitting,

[0017] the parts are located in a self-centring manner,

[0018] fastening and bracing of the assembly unit to the base fitting, and

[0019] fastening of the overhead conductor to the top fitting via a current terminal.

[0020] Embodiments of the outdoor terminator are illustrated in the figures, in which, specifically:

[0021]FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment with constant outside diameter,

[0022]FIG. 2 shows another embodiment with stepped outside diameter,

[0023]FIG. 3 shows an embodiment with different external contours in the right-hand and left-hand half of the figure and

[0024]FIG. 4 shows two flange designs.

[0025] The terminator according to the invention—for example for a rated voltage of 145 kV and having a conductor cross-section of 1200 mm²—comprises an insulating body 50, preferably made of cast resin, which has a cavity 56 in its interior. In the lower region, it can be seen that at the end of the cable core (conductor 12 and conductor insulation 15) the arrangement of the field control element 36 and insulating element 51 is designed in accordance with the structure known to a person skilled in the art.

[0026] The field control body 33 consists of silicone rubber and its control element 36 lies on the transition region between the conductor insulation 14 and the end of the conductive layer 15. The key feature of the invention lies in the design of an insulating body 50 with cylindrical external profile 59. The insulating body has, in the upper region, a constant outside diameter over its length. In the lower region 51, it accommodates the field control body 33 and is screwed onto the base part 20—flange 20′. A cavity 56, the inner surface 54 of which is designed to be electrically conductive, is formed in the upper region of the insulating body, in its interior. Admission of air to the cavity is possible.

[0027] The insulating body 50 is screwed, in the base part having a base plate or a flange 20, onto a supporting frame 29, for example a cross-arm, via insulating supports 21. Alternatively, the lower region of the insulating body may also be formed as a cast body which fits in mating fashion into the flange.

[0028] A high-voltage cable 10 is led into the lower region of the outdoor terminator 8. The shielding wires 11 of the cable 10 are in electrical contact with the flange 20′ of the base part 20, which is mounted via insulators 21 on a cross-arm of a pylon.

[0029] As mentioned, the diameter of the insulating body 50, in particular in the lower region (see also reference numeral 53 in FIG. 3), is dimensioned such that the external field strength in all operating states is below critical values. Owing to the installation of the field control elements, a relatively large diameter is required. However, the diameter above the field control region may be reduced. But this presupposes that the shielding plates 62 follow the conical or stepped contour. The forming costs for shielding plates with a contour which varies over its length are high, however, so that an arrangement with a constant cross-section over the entire length of the insulating body is preferred.

[0030] The insulating body 50 may consist of two parts (51′, 51″) bonded together and with different material qualities. The lower part 51″ (fastening to the base fitting up to the level of the contact elements on the cable conductor) is—without being covered with shielding plates—exposed to the environment; this part must be suitable for outdoor use. The part 51′ may consist of a simple material, since this region is always covered with shielding plates 62. For an embodiment having shield plates 62.1 down to the base fitting, there is likewise an outer protective covering, so that a simple material quality of the insulating body may be employed for this region too.

[0031] The external contour 59 of the insulating body is preferably cylindrical over the entire length. It is covered with shields 62 made of RTV or LSR silicone rubber. The outer surface under the shields may preferably be covered with a field-controlling coating 64. Depending on the form, quality and presence of this coating 64, the insulating body may be designed with different diameters (greater at the bottom and decreasing at the top and a conical transition therebetween) (see FIGS. 2 and 3). The coating may be applied in varying thicknesses for an optimum controlling effect.

[0032] The inner surface 54 of the cavity 56 may be designed to be conductive. It may be produced by conductive lacquer, conductive plasma coating, metal foil (sheet), metallisation or metallic cloth embedded in resin. The surface 54 is at high-voltage potential. The advantage of this design is that, even in the event of condensation of water in the cavity, the electrical reliability remains guaranteed, since the electrical field conditions are uniform given the high-voltage potential present.

[0033] The contact, embedded in the cast-resin body 50, embraces the end contact 30 at the lower end of the tube 32 capable of carrying current. The tube runs up to the top fitting 70 and is fastened there. A mechanically and electrically leaktight end cover 71 is fitted in the upper region of the terminator.

[0034] The connection between cable conductor 12 and electrical duct 32 is arranged at the transition from the full-volume base body in the lower region 53 to the cavity. The connector 30 clamps the uncovered cable conductor in the lower part. The current flows from the cable conductor 12 via the contact 17 to the tube 32. For this purpose, slidable contact or clamping elements are preferably provided between cable conductor and electrical duct. The transition between connector 30 and contact laminations 42 may be sealed by means of an O-ring.

[0035] In the right-hand half of FIG. 3 there is an embodiment of the insulating body having a slightly convex thickening in the lower region 53. The metal ring 26, used for earth connection, can still be used in this design with an unchanged diameter. Shielding plates 62.1, 62.2 may be present in the convex region 53.

[0036] The two FIGS. 4A and 4B show different forms of a flange. The fastening of the insulating body to the flange is effected using a plurality of screw connections 23 (FIG. 2 and FIG. 3). By tightening the screws, the assembly unit mentioned is braced via the spring elements 44 (see FIG. 3), so that voids present in the region of the field control body are completely closed. Reference numeral 24 (FIG. 3) indicates a conductive connection of the surface of the insulating body, for earth connection, to the cross-arm 29. Attached to the foot of the insulating body is a metal ring 26. The metal ring 26 is brought into contact with the earth connection 24 (see FIG. 3) via a screw.

List of Reference Numerals

[0037]8 Terminator

[0038]10 High-voltage cable

[0039]11 Shielding wires of the cable

[0040]12 Cable conductor

[0041]14 Conductor insulation

[0042]15 Conductive layer on the cable insulation

[0043]16 Cable core

[0044]17 Contact (clamping element on cable conductor)

[0045]18 Cable fastening on base fitting

[0046]20, 20′, 20″ Base fitting

[0047]21 Insulator

[0048]22 Flange

[0049]23 Screwing-on of the insulating body

[0050]24 Earth connection

[0051]26 Metal ring=contact between outer conductive layer and earth

[0052]29 Cross-arm

[0053]30 Connector (plug connector)

[0054]32 Conducting pin or tube

[0055]33 Field control body

[0056]34 Electrode

[0057]36 Field control funnel

[0058]42 Contact laminations

[0059]44 Spring elements

[0060]50 Insulating body

[0061]51, 51′ Upper part/lower part

[0062]52 Internal profile of the insulating body

[0063]54 Inner surface

[0064]56 Cavity

[0065]58 Conductive coating

[0066]59 External contour

[0067]62 Shielding plate

[0068]62.1 Shields in the lower region (FIG. 3)

[0069]62.2 Shields in the middle region (FIG. 3)

[0070]64 Conductive layer—on the outside

[0071]65 Connection of conductive layer to earth

[0072]70 Top fitting

[0073]71 End cover

[0074]72 Conductor fastening 

1. Cable terminator (8), in particular outdoor terminator for an electrical cable (10) having a cable conductor (12), a cable insulation (14), a conductive layer (15) and a cable shield (11), the terminator (8) being mounted at one end on a base fitting (20), having means (18) on the base fitting (20) for fastening the cable (10), having an electrical duct (32) in the interior of the terminator (8), having a top fitting (70) for fastening an electrical conductor to the duct (32), having means (30) for electrically connecting the cable shield (11) to earth potential, having a field control device (34,36) and a field insulating device for the potential transitions at the cable end, having an insulating body (50) and having means (23) for fastening the insulating body (50) to the base fitting (20), characterised in that the electrical duct (32) is connected to the cable conductor (12) via contacts (17,30) designed as clamping elements, in that the electrical duct (32), the insulating body (50) and the top fitting (70) form a unit for assembly, and in that the insulating body (50) is designed to take up mechanical load on the terminator (8).
 2. Cable terminator according to claim 1, characterised in that the insulating body (50) is filled up with material from the region (23) of the fastening to the base fitting (20) up to the level of the contacts (17), and in that the filling is reduced towards the top fitting (70), such that an internal cavity (56) is formed.
 3. Cable terminator according to claim 2, characterised in that the inner surface (54) of the cavity (56) bears a conductive coating (58).
 4. Cable terminator according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the insulating body (50) is produced from cast resin.
 5. Cable terminator according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the electrical duct (32) is designed as a tube.
 6. Cable terminator according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the contact elements (17) on the cable conductor (14) are laminated contacts.
 7. Cable terminator according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the surface of the insulating body (50) is coated with a field-controlling layer (64). 